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MapQuest still exists

washingtonpost.com

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Re: MapQuest still exists

#31

Post by wpietri »

georgemcbay wrote: post #16
ronnier wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find the Google apps have the most complicated and confusing UIs of all the apps I use.

Google's UX took a big turn for the worse about 2-3 years ago, IMO. Not so much in terms of the design language (I rather like Material Design) but just the little bits of actual user interaction polish within their apps. Looks began to trump function and interfaces were often too visually simplified to the point where discover-ability of functionality took a huge nose-dive. As a for-example, the new Google Maps for…

Amen. And I could almost stand the more-button-presses thing if it weren't so slow. Now my typical interaction trying to search Google Maps goes like:

    * Open the app.
    * Wait for it to load.
    * See the details of directions from hours ago.
    * Hit back.
    * Wait for it to render.
    * Press back and wait again.
    * Hit back a couple more times.
    * Get frustrated that I'm still seeing old directions.
    * Hit back twice more.
    * Suddenly I am out of the app.
    * Launch it again.
    * Wait.
    * Finally enter my search.
The server-side stuff, like the actual directions, is still amazing. But the UX design just doesn't seem to be driven by actual use.

Re: MapQuest still exists

#32

Post by clarky07 »

qbrass wrote: post #7
shalmanese wrote: post #5

Reviving MapQuest seems about as likely to me as AOL reviving it's dialup business. The simple fact is that the quality bar has risen to the point where maps have become a pay to play space with serious table stakes. You can't just buy a bundle of 3rd party data, slap a nice UI on it and call it a day anymore. Maybe MapQuest could do something unique with merging it's brand name with OSM but even that seems like a pr…

After spending 10 minutes trying to find where Google moved their menu so I could print directions, (I completely missed the hamburger menu blended into the text box) I gave up used MapQuest instead. Instead of focusing on the quality of their map data, MapQuest can just compete by not ruining their UX.

the real question here is, what was the reason for printing directions? I think I also used MapQuest the last time I printed directions, 7 or 8 years ago? My phone just tells me when i need to turn now....

Re: MapQuest still exists

#33

Post by nine_k »

mintplant wrote: post #28

Google is the "always online" company. So MapQuest should be the anti-Google: make a good, free offline maps app. All of the ones I've tried (on Android, at least) either had too little detail or a cumbersome user interface. But all of them were promoted to me directly by word-of-mouth. Make a great one, and people will spread it around. Become the fanatic's map app. The MapQuest brand could have the perfect retro-ni…

Have you tried OsmAnd? Rather nice, free / open data, offline.

Re: MapQuest still exists

#34

Post by simonw »

clarky07 wrote: post #32
qbrass wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After spending 10 minutes trying to find where Google moved their menu so I could print directions, (I completely missed the hamburger menu blended into the text box) I gave up used MapQuest instead. Instead of focusing on the quality of their map data, MapQuest can just compete by not ruining their UX.

the real question here is, what was the reason for printing directions? I think I also used MapQuest the last time I printed directions, 7 or 8 years ago? My phone just tells me when i need to turn now....

Battery and out-of-network areas. Last time we did a road trip (around Arizona) we had to think very carefully about when we would plot the next part of the route on Google Maps because there were long stretches where we had no internet connection. Next time I'm going to take along some print outs as backups.

Re: MapQuest still exists

#35

Post by joshwa »

clarky07 wrote: post #32
qbrass wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After spending 10 minutes trying to find where Google moved their menu so I could print directions, (I completely missed the hamburger menu blended into the text box) I gave up used MapQuest instead. Instead of focusing on the quality of their map data, MapQuest can just compete by not ruining their UX.

the real question here is, what was the reason for printing directions? I think I also used MapQuest the last time I printed directions, 7 or 8 years ago? My phone just tells me when i need to turn now....

Offline/poor cell coverage, battery...

Re: MapQuest still exists

#36

Post by tedunangst »

clarky07 wrote: post #32
qbrass wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After spending 10 minutes trying to find where Google moved their menu so I could print directions, (I completely missed the hamburger menu blended into the text box) I gave up used MapQuest instead. Instead of focusing on the quality of their map data, MapQuest can just compete by not ruining their UX.

the real question here is, what was the reason for printing directions? I think I also used MapQuest the last time I printed directions, 7 or 8 years ago? My phone just tells me when i need to turn now....

My phone isn't 8x11.

Re: MapQuest still exists

#38

Post by eli »

nine_k wrote: post #33
mintplant wrote: post #28

Google is the "always online" company. So MapQuest should be the anti-Google: make a good, free offline maps app. All of the ones I've tried (on Android, at least) either had too little detail or a cumbersome user interface. But all of them were promoted to me directly by word-of-mouth. Make a great one, and people will spread it around. Become the fanatic's map app. The MapQuest brand could have the perfect retro-ni…

Have you tried OsmAnd? Rather nice, free / open data, offline.

OsmAnd is pretty good, but it's freemium. You only get 10 dowbloads.

Re: MapQuest still exists

#39

Post by clarky07 »

tedunangst wrote: post #36
clarky07 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the real question here is, what was the reason for printing directions? I think I also used MapQuest the last time I printed directions, 7 or 8 years ago? My phone just tells me when i need to turn now....

My phone isn't 8x11.

tablet? :-)
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